The term Diaspora
is used to refer to any people or ethnic population who left their
traditional homeland. The Basque Diaspora
consists of
people living outside the Basque homeland in Europe who
identify as being Basque. There are now over 170 Basque
organizations in 24 countries around the world.
Related link:
Zortziak-Bat
Differences
While historical
references to the formation of Basque associations outside the Basque
country date from the 17th (Lima, Peru) and 18th (Madrid & Mexico)
centuries, the real expansion of the global Basque Diaspora is only over
the last century. Several hundred voluntary associations have
formed in about two dozen countries around the world. Estimates vary (one
is seven
million) but there are now more people of Basque descent living outside
than in Euskal Herria (Basque homeland in Europe where three million
people live).
The North
American Basque Organizations (a.k.a. N.A.B.O.) was founded
decades ago with the intent of
helping its member organizations to help each other in
the pursuit of the same objective: the perpetuation of "Basqueness"
(Basque culture and identity). NABO
promotes expanding communication networks with our fellow Basques for
practical and pleasing reasons: practical because now with the
world of the Internet new opportunities are afforded us to learn from
one another as we encounter many of the same challenges in sustaining "Basqueness."
There is also a personal benefit because of the gratification derived
from meeting others of a like-minded commitment to sustaining Basqueness.
To the extent that NABO has found success it has been
based on multi-directional communication among our various member
organizations; note that NABO is only a federation and its strength
derives from what our member organizations provide.
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While historical references to the formation of Basque
associations outside the Basque country date from the 17th
(Lima, Peru) and 18th (Madrid & Mexico) centuries, the real
expansion of the global Basque Diaspora is only over the last
century. A few hundred voluntary associations continue in
about two dozen countries around the world. Click on
V World Congress of Basque
Communities for a look back
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Whereas the meaning of
Basqueness has changed over time (e.g., at one time Basques were
predominately rural whereas they are now urbanites) one constant has
been their language Euskara--Europe's oldest language. It is a
language unrelated to its Indo-European neighbors that were all
introduced after the Basques were situated in their homeland. For
example, when the Romans arrived 2,000 years ago speaking Latin that
later spawned Romance languages (i.e., Spanish, French, Italian,
Portuguese & Romanian) they found a people inhabiting this corner of
Europe speaking a language all their own. Basques have been around
for a long time as a self-defined community, and this cultural trait
seems to have clearly animated Basque migrants who went about creating
Basque associations where-ever they went.
The global Basque Diaspora
The term diaspora
(in Ancient Greek, διασπορά – "a scattering or sowing of seeds")
is used to refer to any people or ethnic population who are forced or
induced to leave their traditional homeland. Over the last five
centuries, Basques migrated for many reasons including political and
economic hardships. This webpage provides some general information
about this global community that maintains Basqueness in the Euspora.
Then again, being Basque is largely a state of mind--these days one
decides to what degree s/he chooses to define as being Basque. Here are
some related websites; please send along your link recommendations, and
we hope you enjoy our Euspora portal.
